- Brand origin
- France
- Main production
- Several countries, incl. Greece
BIC is a French consumer-products brand known for pens, lighters, razors, stationery and hairbrushes. BIC is ultimately owned by Société M.B.D. SCA, a family-owned entity headquartered in France, through Société BIC S.A.
bic.comOwnership chain
- BrandBICFrance
- Société BIC S.A.
- Ultimate ownerSociété M.B.D. SCAFrance
About BIC
What is BIC?
BIC is a French consumer-products brand whose main product categories are stationery, lighters, shavers and hairbrushes. BIC products include pens, mechanical pencils, correction products, coloring products, disposable and refillable lighters, razors and detangling hairbrushes. BIC products are made through factories across four continents, and a 2021 company profile counted 24 factories. BIC reported revenue of €2.233 billion in 2022. Société BIC was listed on the Paris Stock Exchange in 1972. BIC's official website is bic.com.
Who owns BIC?
BIC is ultimately owned by Société M.B.D. SCA, according to Made O'Meter's ownership data verified on 13 September 2026. The ownership chain is BIC, Société BIC S.A., then Société M.B.D. SCA. Société M.B.D. SCA is family-owned. Current BIC governance information identifies the Bich family as a significant shareholder group and Société M.B.D. as its holding entity. BIC remains a publicly listed business, so ownership of Société BIC S.A. also includes public and institutional shareholders. The ultimate owner recorded for BIC is Société M.B.D. SCA, headquartered in France.
Where does BIC come from?
BIC originated in France. Marcel Bich and Édouard Buffard began making parts for writing instruments in 1944 in Clichy, a suburb of Paris. The founders established Société PPA, short for Porte-plume, Porte-mines et Accessoires, in 1945. In 1950, Marcel Bich improved László Bíró's ballpoint design and launched the first BIC Cristal pen in France under the BIC name. Société BIC was created in 1953. The name BIC was formed by shortening Bich's surname and omitting its final letter. BIC established a presence in Belgium in 1951 and entered the United States market in 1958 by acquiring 60 percent of the Waterman Pen Company for $1 million. BIC acquired the Swedish writing-instrument company Ballograf in 1959. BIC acquired Flaminaire in 1971 and entered the lighter business. BIC was listed on the Paris Stock Exchange in 1972. BIC launched its first adjustable-flame lighter in 1973 and began manufacturing and distributing products in Mexico and other Latin American markets in the same year. BIC acquired French coloring and drawing brand Conté in 1979. BIC acquired Wite-Out Products in 1992, followed by Tipp-Ex and Sheaffer in 1997. BIC entered the Indian stationery market in 2009 by acquiring 40 percent of Cello. BIC completed the acquisition of Cello in 2015, creating BIC Cello. BIC purchased Djeep, a manufacturer of high-end and personalized lighters, in 2020. BIC acquired premium detangling-hairbrush company Tangle Teezer for €200 million in late 2024.
What products does BIC make?
BIC makes writing instruments, stationery, lighters, razors and hairbrushes. Writing products include ballpoint pens, mechanical pencils and other stationery products. The BIC Cristal is the company's best-known early ballpoint product. BIC also sells correction products through brands such as Wite-Out and Tipp-Ex, coloring products associated with Conté, and writing instruments associated with Cello and Sheaffer. BIC makes disposable and adjustable-flame lighters, including products from the Djeep business. BIC makes shaving products and razors for consumers. BIC added Tangle Teezer's premium detangling hairbrush products to its portfolio in late 2024. During the 1980s, BIC shaving products generated $52 million in sales and held 22.4 percent of the market.
Who is the current CEO of BIC?
Rob Versloot is the current CEO of BIC. BIC announced his appointment in 2025, and BIC's executive committee lists Rob Versloot as Chief Executive Officer as of April 1, 2026. Édouard Bich is the non-executive chair of the board. Gonzalve Bich preceded Rob Versloot as CEO.
Is BIC made in the USA?
BIC is not exclusively made in the USA. BIC manufactures products through factories across four continents, and a 2021 profile counted 24 factories. BIC entered the United States market in 1958 by acquiring 60 percent of the Waterman Pen Company. The country of manufacture can vary by product and market, so the packaging of a particular BIC product is the appropriate source for its manufacturing location.
Is BIC an ethical company?
BIC describes sustainability and responsible business as part of its corporate commitments, but whether BIC is ethical is a value judgment rather than a single factual classification. BIC's documented business history includes manufacturing pens, lighters, razors, stationery and hairbrushes, acquisitions in several product categories, and operations across four continents. A complete ethical assessment would require examining specific issues such as product materials, manufacturing conditions, environmental performance, labor practices and governance rather than relying on the brand name alone.
What does BIC mean in banking?
In banking, BIC usually means Bank Identifier Code. A BIC identifies a bank in international financial transactions and is also commonly called a SWIFT code. BIC, the consumer-products brand, is unrelated to the banking abbreviation. The brand name BIC comes from Marcel Bich's surname, shortened by removing the final letter.
Is BIC a word, a Scrabble word, or the same as a SWIFT code?
BIC is a word in some specialist contexts, but the consumer brand name and the banking abbreviation have different meanings. In banking, BIC means Bank Identifier Code and is commonly used interchangeably with SWIFT code. Whether BIC is accepted in a particular Scrabble dictionary depends on the dictionary and language edition being used. BIC as a brand name is not the same thing as a SWIFT code.
Frequently asked questions about BIC
Who owns BIC lighters?
- BIC lighters are owned by the BIC business, whose ultimate owner is Société M.B.D. SCA through Société BIC S.A. BIC entered the lighter business after acquiring Flaminaire in 1971 and later acquired Djeep in 2020.
Who owns BIC pens?
- BIC pens are owned by the BIC business, ultimately controlled by Société M.B.D. SCA through Société BIC S.A. Marcel Bich and Édouard Buffard created the business in France, and the first BIC Cristal pen was launched in 1950.
Who owns BIC razors?
- BIC razors are owned by the BIC business, ultimately controlled by Société M.B.D. SCA through Société BIC S.A. BIC has made shaving products alongside stationery and lighters, and its shaving products held 22.4 percent of the market during the 1980s.
Who owns the BIC pen company?
- The BIC pen business is part of Société BIC S.A., which is ultimately owned by Société M.B.D. SCA according to Made O'Meter's ownership data verified on 13 September 2026. Société BIC is publicly listed, while Société M.B.D. is the family-owned ultimate holding entity.
Where are BIC products manufactured?
- BIC products are manufactured through factories across four continents. A 2021 profile counted 24 factories, and the manufacturing country can vary by product and market.
When was the first BIC pen made?
- The first BIC Cristal pen was launched in France in 1950. Marcel Bich improved László Bíró's ballpoint design before launching the pen under the BIC name.
Is BIC a French company?
- BIC originated in France and was founded by Marcel Bich and Édouard Buffard. The founders began making writing-instrument parts in Clichy, near Paris, in 1944, and Société BIC was created in 1953.
What is the difference between BIC and SWIFT?
- BIC is the name of a consumer-products brand and also an abbreviation for Bank Identifier Code. In banking, BIC and SWIFT code generally refer to the same type of bank identifier, while BIC as a brand refers to pens, lighters, razors, stationery and hairbrushes.
Sources: corporate.bic.com: our story, mediabic.bic.com: BIC ESG Investor Presentation March 2026 3a3eb8ccf1.pdf, corporate.bic.com: our news, investors.bic.com, corporate.bic.com: governance, corporate.bic.com: en US, globenewswire.com, mediabic.bic.com: 20260224 BIC Investor Presentation 7621c2c6f8.pdf, corporate.bic.com: our story, corporate.bic.com: notre histoire, corporate.bic.com: l iconique briquet BIC fete ses 50 ans, corporate.bic.com: a nossa historia, corporate.bic.com: nuestra historia, corporate.bic.com: a nossa historia, en.wikipedia.org, cascade.app, corporate.bic.com: en us, corporate.bic.com: evolution dans la gouvernance de bic, corporate.bic.com: nos actus, fr.wikipedia.org, monocle.com, corporate.bic.com: governance evolution at bic
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, investors.bic.com
Ownership data is compiled from public sources and verified where possible. Spotted an error? Suggest a correction below.
Products from BIC
86- BIC pocket lighterOther – Disposable Pocket Lighter
- BIC 3 Action disposable razorsPersonal care – Shaving / Hygiene
- BIC Soleil Escape 5-blade disposable razorsPersonal care – Hygiene (Shavers/Razors)
- BIC 4 Colors ballpoint penOffice Supplies – Multicolour ballpoint pen
- BIC 4 Couleurs Ballpoint PenStationery – Ballpoint pen
- BIC Flex 4 razorsPersonal care – disposable razors
- Bic Flex 3 razorPersonal care – hygiene
- BIC Comfort 2 disposable razorsPersonal care – hygiene
- BIC Sensitive Disposable RazorsPersonal care – hygiene
- BIC 3 Sensitive Disposable RazorsPersonal Care – Hygiene (Shaving)
- BIC Flex 4 disposable razorPersonal care – hygiene
- BIC Miss Soleil Colour Collection razorsPersonal care – hygiene (Disposable Razors)
- BIC Flex5 disposable men's razorPersonal care – Hygene, Shaving
- Bic Lighter and PenPersonal Items – Stationery and Lighters
- BIC J25 Mini Pocket LighterOther – Lighter
- BIC Flex 3 Sensitive ShaverPersonal care – Shaver
- Bic razorPersonal care – Shaving hygiene
- BIC Hybrid5 FlexPersonal care – Razor
- BIC Miss Soleil disposable razorPersonal care – Shaving razor
- BIC Soleil 5 Sensitive Women's RazorPersonal care – Shaving Razor
- BIC consumer goodsOther – Multiple (writing instruments, lighters, and razors)
- BIC Lighter / Pen / RazorOther – Disposable Stationery, Lighters, and Shavers
- Bic Yellow/Sensitive RazorPersonal care – Hygiene
- BIC Lighter / BIC Ballpoint PenOther – Stationery and Smoking Accessories
and 62 more products